Coat-tree for passenger vehicles



March 18, 1952 cj HAY 2,589,611

COAT-TREE FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES Filed Sept. 20. 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 IN V EN TOR.

8 16 15 4 TTOBIVE).

Colin/2B.

c. B. HAY

COAT-TREE FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES March 18, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1949 0 in a Patented Mar. 18, 1952 COAT-TREE FOR PASSENGER VEHI CLES Colin B. Hay, San Jose, Calif., assignor of onehalf to Thomas Bellmont Keesling, Los Gatos,

Calif.

Application September 20, 1949, Serial No. 116,775

13 Claims.

1 This invention relates to clothes hanging devices and more particularly to a coat-tree adapted for self-fastening adjacent the back of the front seat of a passenger vehicle.

It is one object of this invention to provide a clothes hanging standard which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and highly efi'icient in use.

The device of the present invention is calculated to provide a sturdy detachable coat-tree for the interior of vehicles which coat-tree facilitate the hanging of a plurality of garments-in a neat and non-folded condition, without obstructing any of the visibility of the driver through either the rear or side windows of the vehicle, or the visibility of rear seat passengers through the front and side windows.

Another object is to provide a standard upon which to support garments on conventionalcoathangers and which will adapt itself for attachment to the vehicle between its robe cord and the floor or the like of the vehicle.

Another object is to provide a coat-tree standard having a'yieldable foot and a sliding anchorage cooperable with each other for securing the coat-tree between a robe cord or the like and the floor of the vehicle in which it is to be used.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a coat-tree standard adapted for fastening adjacent the rear wall of a vehicle seat and so configurated as to enable its attachment between a robe cord or the like and a foot rest, both of which are movable with the vehicle seat.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following specifications and claims in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle illustrating my coat-tree in association therewith.

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation of the seat shown in Fig. 1 and with a coat and hanger supported on the coat tree.

Fig. 3 -is','a side elevation of my new coat-tree, partially in section, and taken substantially along line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the coat tree of Fig. 3 as seen from line 4-4 thereof.

Fig. 5 i a section taken at line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 in Fig 4.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along line in Fig 4. 1

Fig. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 in Fig. v

. Fig. 9 ;is a bottom view as seen frorn line 9-9 ill-Fig.4., y

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 showing the preferred form' of my invention in use.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective of the preferred form of my coat tree.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective of a, portion of the foot of the coat tree shown in Fig. 11 while Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the spring foot about to be inserted into the foot portion shown in Fig. 12.

The coat-tree It of the present invention, Figs. 1 to 4, 10 and 11, comprises a standard I I having a yieldable foot |2, a slidable fastening means l3 and a head It all united to form a complete unit which may be stored in a very small space as for instance the deck, not shown, usually provided between the rear window and the back of the rear seat of a conventional closed car.

The standard II is preferably formed from a single length of metal tubing l5 which will be rigid enough to withstand bowing or bending other than by abnormal pressures.

The yieldable foot I2 is applied to the lower end of the tube |5 and is preferably secured within the open lower end of the latter by pinching the sides of the tube as shown at l6 and I1, Figs. 11 and 12. In the preferred embodiment the foot |2 comprises a single length of spring wire |8 having a U-shaped or humped mid-portion IQ of such configuration as to fit snugly within the open lower end of the tube |5. The two legs 20 and 2| of the sprin wire I 8 tend to spread and thereby engage the inner side walls of the tube. Consequently, upon insertion of the mid-portion 9 into the flattened end of the tube, the Wire foot is secured in place thereon.

A modified form of mounting of the spring foot I2 is shown in Figs. 3, '7, 8 and 9 in which the open lower end of 'tube |5 is not normally flattened. In this form in order to assure proper securing of the hump i9 within the tube l5, the hump is mounted with its legs 29 and 2| disposed within grooves 2d and 2 l formed lengthwise in the outer portion of a short bar 22 of cold rolled steel. This bar 22 slidably fits into the open lower end of the tube and the pinched portions l6 and H of the latter prevent the bar from coming out of the tube. The two legs 20 and 2| of the spring wire l8 are bent back as at 23 around the lower edge 24 of the tube and each leg is turned to provide several convolutions 25 and 26.

Each leg 20 and 2| of the spring wire |8 in either form of the foot terminates in an elongated tine 21 and 28, respectively, so configurated as to extend in parallelism. Each tine 21 and 28 is bent at its end to extend substantially parallel to the axis of the tube It, but ofiset relative thereto, and is provided with a pointed end 38 and 31, respectively, adapted to be imbedded in the carpeting or floor covering on the floor 32 or foot rail 33 of the vehicle 34 in which the coat tree l isto be used.

It will be understood that the modified form of convoluted spring foot is interchangeable with the plain one of Figs. 11 and 13. That is to say,

the hump portion of the convoluted spring foot,

Figs. 5, '7, 8 and 9 also will fit the flattened end of the tube shown in Fig. 12. e

The fastening means l3 "comprises a, strip of metal 31 having an aperture 38 of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the tube l so as to loosely fit the same for sliding movement relative thereto. It will be noted in Figs. 10 and 11 that the strip of metal has a slight upward bend in the region of the aperture remote from the upwardly curled end of the strip; By this construction the" upwardly bent part of the strip will dig into the tube when'a 'downward pressure is applied to the curled end:

That end of the strip adjacent the portion thereof is curled upwardly as at 453 and is adapted to behooked'un'der ac'onventional robe hanging cord M which is usually provided on the back wall of a vehicle seat 42. I

If desired the tube 15 maybe provided with a greet/e on that side thereof to which the pointed tines i1 and 28 extend relative to the tube, see Figs. 3,4 and G. This groove 35 extends from the upper' end 36 of the tube 5 to about midway its ends and fo rn s a guide and keeper for the" slidable-fastening means l3 herei this form of fastening means IS the metal" pet is provided with a portion 39 which eiitends into the aperture 38 and is so configurated as so e ime the groove 35. In this mafiher the strip 31 restrained against rotativehl'ovement about the tube l5 and when tilted relative thereto will bindingly engage the same and be locked a particularly desired elevation lengthwise of the tube.

The head M m its nest simple form coinpris'es a heavy rod bent downward-1y at its mid -portion as at 46' and ba'ckwardly to provide a hanger rod '4'} in parallelism with the uppermost portion of the rod 45. The two ends of rod re areth'en iserted through a pair of holes pro ides in the upper end or the tube i5 and the ends of the rod 45 hammered over to provide enlarged heads. The open upper end of the tube 15 is then pinched flat as shown in Figs. wand 11. I r I The head I4 may be diecast and applied to the upper end of tube [5 as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5. This form of head has a boss formation 43 which is suitebly secured to the upper end 35' of the tube l5 and keyed with respect thereto by an integral rib 44 which fits into the groove 35. (See Fig.5.) This die cast head has a flat upper surface 45 simulating a cane handle and having a downwardly curved tail portion 66' formed integrally with a hanger rod 41' which extends from the boss formation 4-3 substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube L5. T-he fiat upper surface 45 and its curved tail portion 46' serve as a blunt surfaced guard over the boss 43 and rod 41f toprevent injury to anyone should they accidentally bump into the upper portion of the coat-tree it. 7 These inbefore v, referred t6:

dle, also serve as a grip whereby the coat-tree can be manipulated it-nu presses downwardly by hand of a person as he used his other hand to pull upwardly upon the slidable fastening means 13.

In applying the coat tree H) to the vehicle 34 within which it is to be used, the tree :0 is held as a cane would be and the pointed ends of the tines 2? and 28 set inte the floor of the vehicle 3 3. The tree ill is then pressed downwardly against the action of the'spring foot l2 and the slidable fastening means l3 pulled upwardly with its curled up portion 40 hooked under the robe cord 4i. These robe cords 4| are often provided with an internal spring or spring anchorages at their ends, in which event they tend to stretch under the upward pull of the fastening means 13 as explained above. However, in the absence of expansibility of the robe cord, the yieldability of the convoluted portion 25 and 26 of the wire spring l8, as well as the flexibility of the tines 2! and 28, is suificient to create a binding attachment of the coat-tree between the near 32 and the robe cord M of the vehicle.

It should be noted that the coat-tree shown is especially adapted for attachment to an adjustable type of frontseat of a vehicle. To this end the tube I5 is bent as at 50 so that its lower portion 5| converges slightly with respect to the tilted back 53 of the front seat 42 of the vehicle. In this manner the tines 21 and 2B are adapted to extend beneath the lower edge 54 of the seat 42 with the pointed ends of theti'nes imbedded in either thev floor 32 or the foot rail 33 which moves with the adjustable carriage of the front seat. Moreover, the bend 50' in the tube is makes it possible to dispose the upper end 55 of the coat-tree standard in a truly vertical position with the rod 41 horizontally disposed. v

It will be apparent that even though the seat with which the coat-tree is associated is m'o'v'-' able the coat-tree will follow the movableseat. In other words, when the spring. foot rests on the movable foot rail 33 the disposition of the coat-tree relative to the seat is not disturbed. 0n the other hand, if the spring foot rests on the permanent floor 32 of. the vehicle, the coat"- tree will rock fore and aft with the movable seat when the same is adjusted, see Fig. 10.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that movement of the seat 42 forward or backward in no way effects the attachment of the coat t'r'ee to the seat and its carriage. Consequently, there is little likelihood of the coat tree' becoming loosened or displaced relative to the seat to which it is attached. 7 V v The coat-tree l0, herein explained, provides ample rod space for several coat hangers with clothing thereon. The clothing supported on the coat-tree will in no way create obstruction-bf the drivers vision through either rear or side windows of the vehicle cab. Neither will clothing on the coat-tree obstruct the vision of rear seat passengers with respect to the front or side windows of the vehicle.

The coat-tree may easily be removed by de' pressing the handle-like head ['4 on the standard I I so as to cause the spring type foot l2 to yield, thereby releasing the binding action of the robe cord 4! upon the fastening means.

While I have described a device enibfody' ing' one specific form of my invention it will be apparent that the same may be varied, modified desire to avail myself of all variations, modifica tions or alterations which fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a standard for a coattree or the like for use interiorly of the cab of closed vehicles of means for securing said standard in a substantially erect position within the cab of a closed vehicle comprising yieldable means on one end of said standard adapted to rest upon a stationary surface such as the floor of the vehicle for exerting an upward thrust against said standard when said yieldable means is depressed, and a fastening means on said standard in the upper region thereof adapted to engage a relatively fixed bead or projection within the cab of said closed vehicle above said stationary surface in the latter for counteracting the upward thrust exerted upon said standard by said yieldable means to thereby bindingly secure said standard between said floor surface and said relatively fixed bead or projection above the same.

2. The combination with a standard for a coattree and the like to be used interiorly of the closed cab of a vehicle, of means for supporting said standard in a substantially vertical position within the closed cab of a vehicle comprising yieldable means on the lower end of said standard for engaging a stationary surface for exerting an upward thrust against said standard when the latter and said yieldable means are manually depressed, and a fastening means slidably mounted on said standard adapted to bindingly engage the same when tilted relative thereto upon engagement with a relatively fixed bead or projection above said stationary surface for restraining upward movement of said standard against the action of said depressed yieldable means to thereby secure said standard in a vertical position between said stationary surface and said relatively fixed bead or projection above the same.

3. A coat-tree for a vehicle having a seat provided with a fixed projection on its rear wall comprising a standard having a head portion, fastening means slidable upon said standard for manual adjustment into engagement with the fixed projection on the rear wall of said seat, and a spring means on said standard adapted to exert an upward pressure thereto for effecting binding engagement of said fastening means with the fixed projection on therear wall of said vehicle seat.

4. In a coat-tree adapted to be fastened adjacent the rear wall of a conventional vehicle seat having a robe support thereon, the combination therewith of a standard, fastening means slidable on said standard for engagement with said robe support and adapted to bindingly engage said standard when tilted relative thereto, and yieldable means on said standard adapted to be depressed during sliding of said fastening means into engagement with said robe support and for effecting an upward pressure of said fastening means against said robe support for securing said standard between the robe support and the floor of the vehicle.

5. A coat-tree of the class described comprising a standard, a foot on said standard adapted to yield upon being pressed against a floor surface for adheringly engaging said floor surface and thereby exert an upward thrust against said standard, and means on said standard in the region of the upper end thereof adapted to engage a projection fixed above and relative to said floor surface for counteracting the upward thrust exerted against said standard by said yieldable foot to thereby secure said standard in a vertical position.

6. A coat-tree adapted to be fastened adjacent the rear wall of a conventional vehicle seat having a robe support thereon, comprising a standard having a headportion provided with a hanger rod, a fastening means on said standard adapted to tilt into binding engagement therewith upon application of a thrust against one extended end of said fastening means, means on said one extended end of said fastening means for engaging the robe support on the rear wall of said vehicle seat, and a yieldable foot onsaid standard adapted to be compressed against the floor of the vehicle incident to engagement of said fastening means with said robe support and for exerting an upward thrust to said standard and fastening means whereby to effect tilting of the latter into binding engagement with said standard.

7. A coat-tree of the class described comprising a standard having a head portion providing a hanger rod, a yieldable foot for said standard, a fastening means slidable axially on said standard, said standard having a guide groove and a keeper on said fastening means extending into said groove for preventing, turning of said fastening means about said standard, said fastening means being adapted to tilt into binding engagement with said standard upon application of a thrust against one extended end of said fastening means.

8. A coat-tree comprising a tubular standard having a guide groove formed lengthwise thereof in its upper portion, a hanger rod head keyed to the groove at the upper end of said standard, a plate having an aperture adapted to fit said tubular standard and having a keeper extending into said guide groove, and a spring wire foot having a humped mid portion secured within the open lower end of said tubular standard. said spring wire foot being adapted to engage a floor surface for yielding action under downward pressure against said head and for effecting tilting of said plate into binding engagement with said standard upon engagement of one edge of said plate with a relatively stationary projection above said floor surface.

9. In combination with the robe support and foot rail of an adjustable seat and carriage therefore, a coat-tree comprising a standard, a yieldable foot on said standard having a pronged end for engaging said foot rail, and a fastening means on the upper portion of said standard for engagement under said robe support during depression of said yieldable foot whereby the latter effects an upward thrust upon said standard for bindingly engaging the standard with said fastening means due to obstruction of the latter by said robe support.

10. In combination with the robe support on the rear wall of an adjustable vehicle seat and the stationary fioor therebeneath, a coat-tree comprising a standard having a hanger rod in the region of its upper end, a fastening means on said standard movable into engagement with the under side of said robe support, and a yieldable foot on said standard having a pronged end adapted to dig into the covering of said stationary floor to anchor said yieldable foot relative to the adjustable vehicle seat, said yieldable foot being compressible for exerting an upward thrust to said standard for bindingly urging said fasten- '7 means against the finderside of said robe suppert and for yielding diifing' adjustment bf said adjustable vehicle seat relative to said stationary floor.

-1-1-;In combination with a robe support or like nreieetion on the rear Wall of a vehicle seat and the" fiq'o'r' therebeneath, a noamree. cbmpris iiia standard, a yieldable foot on said standard having a pointed end for engaging said floor, a fastening means movable lengthwise or the upper pertien- "or said standardror manuai ositie ngop osite said robe support, saidfastening means having a hooked edge for engaging said rene support irom below, and means operatively etmeetmg said fastening means with said stand= aid to thereby assure against creeping o-f said tasted-n e'ans relative to-said standard during 'IIiDW' d ress'ure or said Standard by saidyieldabl'e' 1 -2. combination with a robe' support or the like on the rear wall of a vehicle seat and the fieo'f therebeneath, a coat-tree comprising a standard, a yiel'dable foot on said standard for re'sti g the same on said floor and adapted to yield upon downward pressure for exerting an 'uijwai'd thrust to said standard, and a fastening means on said standard opposite said robe support and engageable with the latter for resisting wayward movement of said standard under the inflilence of said yieldable means;

'13 combination with a robe support or the 8 like on the rear wall of a vehicle seat and the floor therebeneath, a coat-tree 'coxniii' ising a standard, a foot for said standard ineliiding a pair of tines convoluted between their ends and secured to the lower end of said standard, said tines having pointed ends adapted to imbed within the floor covering on said floor to iaeil-itate compression of said convoluted tines whereby the latter will effect an upward thrust to said stand= a rd, and a fastening means on said standard opposite said robe support and engageable with the latter for resisting upward movement of said standard under the influence of said de= ressed convoluted tines. I

COLIN B; REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nmnber Name Date 1,912,51 Curtis et al. June 6, 1933 2,015,976 Trepte et a1. Oct. 1, 1935 2,196,196 Dorsey Apr. 9; 1940 2,483,043 Golden Sept. 27-,- 1 949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number country Date 370,938 German amine-:4: June 3-, 1921 

